A Guide to the Buenos Aires Tango Festival

As you surely know by now, from August 16th the Buenos Aires Tango Festival and World Championships will be held in Buenos Aires, the Tango event with the widest international involvement in the world. Thousands of visitors and dancers from around the world will come to the city to participate in the various activities, enabling them to live, eat and breathe tango for two weeks.

Here is some useful information to help you take advantage of this great opportunity to participate in the many activities organized and become a Tango expert!

Tango

The passionate Tango, year after year, increases its followers not only in Argentina but all over the world. The Tango’s rich historical heritage has ensured its continuous growth has not been detrimental to its strong sense of tradition.

The global growth and influence of Tango has been so great that in December 2009 it was declared the Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad (Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) by UNESCO. Additionally, since February 2010 the Tango has had its own official home in Buenos Aires: the Teatro de la Ribera in the neighborhood of La Boca. All the events here are devoted exclusively to the traditional (tango-based) music of Buenos Aires, with milongas, shows, classes and exhibitions taking place all year round.

What to do during the Festival

The Fair The traditional Fair of Products, that complements the musical program of Tango Buenos Aires, will open its doors once again in 2011. The fair involves a varied display of artistic productions related to Tango. It is an excellent opportunity for visitors – both Argentine and foreign – to access, appreciate and purchase all sorts of tango-based products, for example shoes, clothing, books, records and other forms of one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

Exhibition dedicated to Carlos Gardel One major exhibition of Tango Buenos Aires 2011 is dedicated to the world of Tango icon Carlos Gardel, the singer with the ‘exceptional voice and eternal smile’. From Wednesday 17th to Sunday 28th, visitors to the Centro de Exposiciones will get to see the largest exhibition about Carlitos ever held. Produced by the Industrias Culturales Argentinas program, the exhibition, made up of over 500 pieces, will include possessions, photographs, records, and historical documents. The exhibition will be open daily from 4pm to 10pm and will be located in a prime position within the Centro de Exposiciones. Access is, as with all the shows and activities on offer throughout Tango Buenos Aires, free. This exhibition will provide a unique opportunity for the public to learn about the life, love and work of a man who defeated death. It is because of this, Carlitos, as the old Argentine popular saying goes, “sings better every day.”

Concerts and Activities

During the 2 week Festival over 150 concerts, dance shows, milongas and parties will take place, and importantly, all of them are free! You can view the complete list of activities and events here:

Tickets As all activities and shows in Buenos Aires Tango Festival and World Championship are free, tickets are distributed on a first come first served basis, and it is rare that they do not reach full capacity. The only shows that require you to reserve a ticket are those hosted by the CCC Teatro 25 de Mayo, as well as the semifinals and final of the Tango World Championship.

Tickets for the CCC Teatro 25 de Mayo

Tickets for activities scheduled at the CCC Teatro 25 de Mayo may only be collected on the day of show at the theater box office from 11am to 18pm, Av Triunvirato 4444. Ticket allocations are restricted to a maximum of two per person.

Tickets for the World Championship Semifinals and Final Tickets for the semifinals and final rounds may be collected on Monday, August 22, from 11am to 19pm from the Casa de la Cultura, Avenida de Mayo 575. The allocation restrictions of two tickets per person apply. There are two categories to choose from: Salon Tango and Stage Tango.

I hope this information will come in useful, and I might even see you in one of the many milongas that take place throughout the festival!

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